Fractal White Tiger July 2017

There were 1,202 stitches added this month to the Charting Creations "Fractal White Tiger" cross-stitch I am making for my eldest son. It is based on artwork by Ricky Barnard.

The top 5 rows of page 6 are now complete. I should have a page finish to share with you next month, as there are only 1,248 stitches to go on this page!

A photo of this piece may be found on the right sidebar of my blog.

You might remember me mentioning my mother-in-law gave me a scroll frame for Christmas last December. It works with a special type of velcro that you stick onto your fabric and cut off when you are finished. I really wanted to use the frame for this piece because I worried the clamps from my Q-snap frame were stretching the fabric (as seen in the top photo.) However, I did not feel there was enough room at the top of the fabric to risk cutting part of it off in the future and the rods the frame came with were not long enough to turn it sideways. So, I splurged and purchased 30-inch rods. It is working like a dream. (No pun intended - the frame is made by American Dream Products.)

This is how it looked on June 30th. In the top photo, you may see most of the stitches have been filled in above the eye and more stripes are appearing to the left of his eye.

I began this piece on January 1, 2016 as a part of what is now called the 2017 Stitcher's Group. (Due to other projects I have going, this is only 67 days of stitching progress.) If you would like to see the projects others are working on, you may see them here.

It is Monday, so I am joining Monday Stitchery Link Party #121 at Super Mom - No Cape! This week. I do hope you will stop by to see what others are working on that you might join the party.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Renee

CQJP 2013 January Block Zipper Pouch Completed

This zipper pouch was created with my very first Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) block in January of 2013. 

I have added credits on the photo as well, but would like to point out that I used waste canvas to stitch one of the houses from a cross stitch chart called, "Cozy Winter Twilight" that is in the Stoney Creek Country Living Collection booklet. And the birch tree and snowflake flowers in front of the mailbox were some of my first attempts using tutorials in Diana Lampe's book, Embroidery for all Seasons. 

This is the back of the pouch.

For the lining, I used a snowy print found in my fabric stash.

My attempts to capture the lining in a photo with my camera blurred around the edges. I thought the affect was kind of fun, but used the camera on my phone for the clearer view in the photo above.

This block was #1 on my UFO Challenge list for 2017. This was the project selected for July.

Thanks to the motivation this challenge provides, I have completed 4 UFOs (unfinished objects) this year and made progress on 3 others.

(If you click on this image for a larger view the text will clear. I am not sure why the Picasa program's text seems to blur when photos are added to my blog.)

A photo of this pouch may be found on my Instagram account, on this Pinterest board, and on my Hand Stitched Treasure Facebook page.

This zipper pouch is also part of my 1 X-mas Item a Month goals. You may see what others are making here.

Notes:

The Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) is a personal challenge to complete one crazy quilt block each month. Sign ups generally open in November and close in December the year before the challenge. You may see more of the work others completed during CQJP 2013 here. If you might be interested in participating in 2018, watch for the sign up information on this year's CQJP 2017 blog here. 

You may find more information about the 2017 UFO Challenge here at allpeoplequilt.com. 

Tutorials I found helpful in making this bag include the Missouri Star Quilt Company Zipper Pouch Tutorial on YouTube, found here, and part of this tutorial at Emmaline Bags.

I am not affiliated with any of these sites, links were added for your convenience.

Related posts:

CQJP 2013 January block complete - here

My 2017 UFO Challenge List - here

January UFO Challenge #6: CQJP 2014 Wristlet - here.

March UFO Challenge #12: CQI UTS RR Blocks Set 1 - here

April UFO Challenge #11: CQI UTS RR Blocks Set 2 - here



Thank you for stopping by!
-Renee

TAST Stitch 68

TAST Stitch 68 was the Woven Zig Zag Chain Stitch. Looking at the stitch, I could picture a seam of holly leaves.

I thought using waste canvas would help keep my stitches even.

It appeared to be working. 

Unfortunately, I failed to line the dark blue line of the canvas up with the seam, as I thought I had done. Removing the waste canvas revealed the zig zag chain stitch above.

So, I pulled the stitches out and tried again, just eyeballing the distance between stitches.

Size 8 green perle cotton was used to create the woven zig zag chain stitch above.

Clusters of 3 red seed beads created holly berries.

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal stitching challenge offered by Sharon B. at Pintangle.com. You may read more about TAST here and find the Facebook group here.

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee

CQJP 2017 March Block - 2 Seams & 1 Motif

Better late than never? Last week, I finally felt inspired to work on another under-the-sea themed block, so I pulled out my CQJP 2017 March block and added this seahorse.

I traced the shape on the back foundation of the block with light pencil marks. Using the marks on the back to guide me, I outlined the body with split stitches. The body and stomach area were then filled with satin stitches using a single strand of variegated DMC floss. DMC 4077 was used for the tummy and DMC 90 was used for the head and body.

The first seam embellished on the block was created with a strand of size 5 DMC #4020 and buttonhole stitches in various clusters and angles. At a later stage of embellishement, beads will be added to this seam.

The second seam was a quick one. Fly stitches were created with 2 strands of DMC 93 variegated blue floss.

If you have not heard about CQJP, it stands for Crazy Quilt Journal Project. It is a personal challenge to complete a crazy quilt block at least 8-inches square each month. Registration generally opens in November and closes in December the year prior to the challenge. You may read more about it here and see blocks others have created here.

Related Blog Posts

Seahorse Tutorial - here
CQJP 2017 January Block - here
CQJP 2017 February Block - here
My CQJP 2017 Pinterest Board - here

I am linking this post with Monday Stitchery Link Party #119 at Super Mom - No Cape! 

If you have a blog and do hand embroidery, I hope you will join the party!

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Renee

QS Red Hearts Update - July 2017

It has been a while since I shared an update on my Heaven and Earth Designs "QS Red Hearts" cross-stitch project. It is based on artwork by the very talented Ching-Chou Kuik.

In June, I picked this up for the first time since March and worked on it for 2 days. Only 395 stitches were added, but it was visible progress on page 4. 

I had been sharing progress the first Monday of each month. Right now, my focus piece is Twilight Duel, so I will be sharing that on the first Monday and sharing this piece once a month when there is progress to share. (This one is for me, so I hope that is frequent progress to share!)

The project is 44.67% complete.

Pages 1-3: 100% 
Page 4:      28.22%
Page 5:      7.12%
Page 6:      7.26%

I am joining Monday Stitchery Link Party #118 at Super Mom - No Cape!

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee

4th Annual Piggy Bank Savings Challenge

This was my 2nd year participating with the Piggy Bank Savings Challenge hosted by Val at Val's Quilting Studio. 

Last year, I saved $88.48 between August 1st and July 5th. 

(Here is the post where I shared the total & here is how I spent it.)

This year I managed to save $92.52.

(It would have been more, but I took some big, heavy blankets that are hard on my washing machine to the laundromat with a few of the quarters I had tucked away.)

Looking at the funds I saved, it is tempting to splurge on pretty fabrics for a new project.

However, my main crafty goal this year has been to finish some UFOs.

(If you missed the post with the priorities for this year, it is here.)

So, I am going to buy a couple of yards of interfacing that I need for two UFOs and put the rest of the money towards a student loan.

If you would like to see how everyone else did that signed up for the challenge, you may find the links here. 

And if you think you might like to join the fun next year, 

sign ups begin on July 13th for the 

5th Annual Piggy Bank Savings = Money for Quilting Challenge on Val's blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Renee

Twilight Duel Update #20 - July 2017

On June 5th, this is how my Heaven and Earth Designs "Twilight Duel" cross-stitch based on artwork by Ruth Thompson looked.

(I have a confession... I may be splurging soon to purchase a phone case featuring Ruth Thompson's artwork. If you are curious, you may find them here. I am not affiliated with her artwork or this company.)

In June, I added 2,783 stitches. (1,674 of those were added after I shared the above photo on June 5th.)

A full photo of this piece may be found on the sidebar to the right.

39,224 stitches are done, so there are 108,376 stitches to go...

My next update should reach the 40,000 stitches milestone.

Percent Complete:

Project: 26.57% (It was 25.44%.)

Pages 1 & 2: 100%

Page 3: 20.95% (It was 18.94%.)

Page 4: 100%

Page 5: 1.83%

Page 6: 0%

Page 7: 46.63% (It was 28.25%.)

Page 8: 100%

Page 9: 2.73%

Page 10: 0.25%

Page 11: 0%

Page 12: 0%

Page 13: 42.51% (It was 40.87%.)

Page 14: 3.62%

I am linking with Monday Stitchery Link Party #117 at Super Mom - No Cape!

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Renee

July 2017

We are already halfway through 2017. Can you believe it?! 

Looking back at the projects I hoped to work on in June (found here), I completed the following:

#1 I finished 1 of the projects for my Etsy shop. Photos will be shared soon.

#6 on my list was to finish embellishing the "E" block from the Crazy Quilting International Hearts Round Robin I participated in back in 2014 and to sew the blocks into a wall quilt. The embellishment is complete! You may see more about the embellished "E" block here.

#7 I did make progress on the crazy quilted Christmas stocking I am making for my son. You may read more details here.

#8 was to finish Block 5 for the Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM through Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends. I pieced the block and ironed the applique into place, but still have a fair amount of hand stitching to do. 

Here is my updated list for the APQ UFO Challenge. (My original post about the challenge is here.)

Thanks to this challenge, I have 3 finishes and have made progress on 3 others.

There are a lot of chores and big projects we are hoping to finish around the house this month, so I do hope my crafty time will be productive!

July Goals:

1. Complete 2 projects for my Etsy shop. Sewing this under-the-sea block into an eye glasses case will be one of those projects. 

2. Finish gifts for my friend's daughter.

3. Sew the 6 blocks from my CQI Hearts Round Robin into a wall hanging. (This was #2 on my APQ UFO Challenge list and was selected for May.)

4. Finish embellishing the stocking I am making for my eldest son. (This was #10 on my APQ UFO Challenge list and was selected for June. Current progress may be seen above.)

5. Finish my CQJP 2013 January block into a finished project. (This is #1 on my AQP UFO Challenge list and was selected for July. Please note: the house was stitched from the Stoney Creek Country Living Collection "Cozy Winter Twilight" chart. You may read more about this block here. )

6. Finish Block 5 of the Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM through Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends. (Progress seen above.)

7. Finish Block 6 of the Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM through Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends. Block 6 is actually a border for Block 5 that was designed by Carla at Creatin' in the Sticks. You may see it here.

8. I am participating with The Stitching Hour 2017 on Instagram. It is a personal Challenge inspired by AmbitiousStitches to stitch 1 hour a day from June 1st through August 1st. If you are interested in following my progress, it will be shared here.

Top 5 Viewed Posts in June:

1. June 2017 - here

2. A Floral Seam & a New Book - here

3. "E" Block Progress - here

4. CQI Heart RR "E" Block is Done! - here

5. TAST 76 - here (This was also the 5th most viewed post in May.)

Thank you for stopping by!

Renee